Adjustable draft



(No Model.)

J. G. ASTON.

ADJUSTABLE DRAFTING TABLE.

Patented Jan. 11, 1887.

INVENTOR WITNE SES ig;

ATTORNEYS.

JOHN GILLILAND ASTON, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

ADJUSTABLE DRAFTING-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,023, dated January 11, 1887.

Application filed April 19, 1886. Serial No. 199,416. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN GILLILAND ASTON, of Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Drafting-Tables, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved adjustable drafting board or table adapted for convenient use as such by architects, engravers, draftsnien, &c., and also adapted to be placed on an easel for use by artists as an adjustable sup port or holder for a stretcher or other surface whereon a painting or drawing .is to be made.

The features of construction and combination of parts are as hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of my improved adj ust-able draftingtable, showing in dotted lines the drafting-board adjusted in various positions to suit the convenience of the drafts- Fig. 2 shows by perspective views the several parts removed from contact with one another. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal vertical sectional view taken on lineman, Fig. 1, of the drawings; and Fig. 4C is a perspective view showing my adjustable table mounted on suitable supports to adapt it for use as an artists easel.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. 7

Referring to the several parts by letter, A indicates the base, which is usually employed with my improved adjustable drafting-table, and in the lower portion of this base is formed the drawer B, forming a case in which instruments, &c., may be kept, and this case is closed by a sliding cover, G, and this cover serves as a shelf when the draftingtable is in use. The upwardly-projecting end pieces, D D, of the base A are formed with the longitudinal eoncave or curved grooves E E, in which are supported and turn the rockers F F of the adjustable frame, which supports the adjustable drafting-board. The upper portion of each end piece, D, is formed to each side of its central elevated part with the semicircular recesses G, which permit of the boardbeing adjusted at a greater angle or inclination than would be possible if the top edges of the end pieces, D, were perfectly straight, as will be readily seen.

H indicates the adjustable supporting frame,

the same consisting of the semicircular rockers F F, which fit in the curved grooves E of the end pieces,D, and which are connected at by the central transverse cross-piece, J, having the longitudinal slot K. One of the end rockers F, (or both may be so constructed, if

desired,)is formed near its lower curved edge with the segmental-slot L, through which passes a transverse bolt, M, passing through the elevated central portion of that end piece D, and on the outer threaded end of this bolt works a thumb-nut, N, -by tightening which the supporting-frame H is secured in its adjusted position.

0 indicates the draftingboard, which is usually rectangular in shape and somewhat larger than the top of the supporting-frame H, on which it rests adjustably, the upper surface of this board being of course perfectly smooth and level, while on its lower side it is provided with the central downwardly-projecting interiorly-screw-th readed collar, P, the outer diameter of which is slightly less than the width of the longitudinal slot K'of the cross-piece J of the supporting-frame, in which slot the downwardly-projecting collar of the drafting-board fits and slides. A bindingscrew, Q, extends through from the lower side of the slotted cross-piece J, its screw-threaded portion working in the screw-threaded socket of the collar 1?, and this binding-soreW Q is formed with the annular flange Q, which bears against the lower side of the slotted cross-piece, and'by tightening this binding-screw it will be seen that the drafting-board can be readily secured in any position to which it may be turned on the supporting-frame H.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of my improved adjustable drafting-table will be readily understood. It will be seen'that the draftingboard can be adj usted in two ways, as by means of the rockered supportingframe the angle of the board with reference to the floor or base can be adjusted at will, while by loosening the binding-screw Q the board may be turned on the. said frame to suit the convenience of the draftsman, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Fig. l of the drawings. bottom portion of the base A, which forms a case for instruments, 820., and mounting the adjustable upper portion of the table on suit able supports, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, it will form aconvenient adjustable easel for artists, which may be readily and easily adjusted to receive the best light, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4:.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination of the draftingboard and semicircular rockers attached thereto with abase having grooves adapted to receive said rockers and permit their adjustment for the purpose of varying the inclination of the drafting-board, as specified.

2. The combination of the drafting-board and rockers attached thereto with the base having grooved end pieces, which are cut out or constructed with recesses G on each side of the middle, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination of the drafting-board proper, O, and clamping-bolt with the sup- By removing the porting-frame having. a transverse centralslot, as shown and described, whereby the said board may be adjusted in the direction of its width, and turned on the bolt as a center, as shown and described.

4. The combination, with the base provided with the'end pieces having the longitudinal curved grooves and having the curved recesses formed in their'upper edges, of the supportingframe having the longitudinally-slotted cross-piece and the semicircular rockers, one of which is provided with the segmental slot, the bolt passing through one of the end pieces of the base and the said segmental slot, and having the thumb-nut, the drafting-board having the central doWnwardly-proj ecting collar formed with the interior screw-thread, and the flanged binding-screw working in the said collar, as and for the purpose shown and described.

Jorrn GILLILAND ASTON.

Witnesses:

W. O. OARMIOI-IAEL, H. T. ESTABROOK. 

